Hamilton was told over the radio: “Schumacher has just gone half a tenth quicker than us in the first sector, but he’s quite a lot slower in the middle sector.”

Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate Button eventually snatched second place on the grid tomorrow (Sunday).

Schumacher and Mark Webber will start on the second row, with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel qualifying fifth and sixth respectively, although Raikkonen will take a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.

Lewis secured his place in the top 10 shootout with the fifth fastest time in Q2 as Kimi Raikkonen went quickest for Lotus.

Hamilton safely got through Q1 in sixth place as Red Bull driver Mark Webber posted the fastest time on the harder compound tyre.

Webber was followed by Schumacher, Button and Nico Rosberg on the timesheets in Q1.

After his first run, Hamilton asked: “Where do I need to find time?”

The McLaren pitwall told Hamilton: “Time-wise we’re 0.3s off the fastest time in the middle sector. I think there’s time to be found there. We’ll give you an overlay.”